Eating right is not just for kids!
People often associate poor eating behaviors with kids. While many children lack an adequate intake of vegetables and other healthy foods, this problem is not exclusive to the young. Adults, too, may exhibit poor nutritional behaviors that can sabotage good health. How can this be addressed? Read on for helpful tips for adult healthy eating.
What should adults eat for better health?
Per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating plans for adults should include a variety of nutritious foods. Healthy diets should typically include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Fat-free or low-fat milk products
- Proteins like lean meats, poultry, eggs, etc.
- A variety of beans
- Assorted nuts and seeds
- And more
Healthy diet plans should typically limit or avoid foods (or beverages) containing:
- Processed foods
- High sugar foods
- High sodium foods
- High fat foods
- Foods ladened with saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol
Folks seeking healthy diets should do the following:
- Talk with a doctor or nutritionist to learn which foods are best for their specific healthcare needs.
- Calculate the number of calories you need per day and eat for a healthy weight.
- Visit USDA’s MyPlate Plan to learn more about food, food groups, and nutritious eating.
- Learn how to read nutrition labels.
- Keep a food journal or diary to document foods being consumed. Use this to evaluate eating habits and as a springboard for positive change.
- Practice eating better by cutting back on less healthy foods, eating smaller portions, and making healthful substitutions in recipes to eat for wellness.
- In addition to practicing healthy eating, also include physical activity (exercise), sleeping well, and stress management to maximize health.
- Limit alcohol and avoid smoking.
Wow! The benefits of eating right!
The above provides helpful tips for adult healthy eating. People who engage in eating for their health find many great benefits. This includes having stronger bones and muscles, having healthy skin, teeth, and eyes, helping the digestive system function, boosting immunity to viruses, lowering the risk of certain diseases, feeling more energized, enhancing one’s mood, and possibly living longer.
Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
Some people mistakenly believe that eating well is solely important for kids to support healthy growth. And, that once they are grown, diet doesn’t really matter. That is simply wrong. Poor nutrition is not good for anyone! Just like kids, adults absolutely need to eat for wellness and are encouraged to maintain healthy weight as they age. In fact, CDC doesn’t mince words. They explain that “Adults who eat a healthy diet live longer and have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.” In summary, eating for wellness is a leading way for the body to thrive and for adults to maximize opportunities to enjoy healthy lifespans.
These helpful tips for adult healthy eating emphasize good health. To learn more about the importance of vitamins in diet, and particularly about vitamin D, visit our sister article here.
This article is purely informational and is not intended as a medical resource or substitute for medical advice.
